Electric irons



Feb. 3, 1959 w. A. HUMPHREY 2,871,588

ELECTRIC IRONS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26 1955 Feb. 3, 1959 w. A. HUMPHREY ELECTRIC IIRONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1955 Feb. 3, 1959 w. A. HUMPHREY 2,871,588

, ELECTRIC IRONS Filed Jan. 26, 1955 V i 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 8 /1/ 2 Fig. 6

United States Patent 2,871,588 ELECTRIC IRONS Warren A. Humphrey, Canton, Ohio, assiguor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 26, 1955, Serial No. 484,138 2 Claims. '(Cl. 38-77) latter is in its open or closed positions. Another object is to provide a steam iron having control means to initiate movement of a valve to open or closed positions and separate means limiting movement of the valve to its open position. Another object is to provide a control for a steam valve and independent means to close the valve upon movement of the iron to non-ironing position. A further object is to provide a thermostat dial to control dry and steam ironing temperatures and also operation of a valve. Another object is to provide a minimum of units for easy assembly into a complete iron. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein:

Figure l is a sectional view of one embodiment of the invention with the valve in open position,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the valve closed,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the iron showing the cams and indicia on the control dial,

Figure 4 is a view showing the arrangement of the cams on the underside of the control dial to initiate movement of the valve to open and closed positions,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the overcenter valve actuating device,

Figure 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention showing the iron in rest position and the valve closed,

Figure 7 is a view showing the arrangement of the cams on the underside of the control dialto initiate movement of the valve to open or closed positions, and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the overcenter valve operat ing device.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a sole plate 10 provided with a cast in heating element 11, and a steam generating chamber 12 at the rear end of the sole plate communicates with suitable steam passageways 13 leading to ports 14 for discharge of steam onto the material to be ironed. A cover plate 15 is secured by bolts 16 to the sole plate and cooperates with the latter in defining the steam generator 12 and passageways 13. Arranged above the cover plate 15 is a water reservoir or tank 17 having a nipple 18 supported in an arcuate seat 19 on the cover plate and is provided with an outlet 20 for escape of water to the steam generator 12. The front end of the tank 17 is supported on a bracket 21 secured to the sole plate 10 by one of the bolts 16. A cover shell 22 encloses the reservoir 17 and is removably secured to the sole plate 10 by a trapped nut and a bolt 23 the latter extending through a tube 24 in the tank.

Mounted on the sole plate 10 by a screw 26 is a therice spectively. Current is supplied to the contact arms 29-30 and the heating element 11 through rigid conductors 33 mounted on the sole plate 10 by an insulated bracket 34 and through a conductor cord 35. A bracket 36 on the thermostat supports a rotatable shaft 37 which engages the arm 29 to adjust the contacts, and the shaft extends upwardly through a tube 38 in the tank 17 and an opening 39 in the cover shell 22 for removable engagement in a recessed seat 40 in a control dial 41. A plurality of springs 42 riveted at 43 to the cover shell engage an annular slot 44 in the dial 41 to removably secure the latter on the thermostat stem 37.

A handle 45 of insulating material is provided with front and rear supporting legs 46 and 47 respectively which are secured to the cover shell 22 by screws 48 assembled from within the shell. The front .leg 46 is provided with a fill opening 49 the lower end 50 of which is aligned with an opening 51 in the top wall 52 of the tank 17 for filling the latter with water. In order to attach the handle to the sole plate, the cover shell 22 is first secured to the handle 45 by the screws 48, and the shell and handle is then mounted as a unit on the sole plate 10 by the bolt 23. The inner end 53 of the handle front leg 46 projects through an opening in the cover shell 22 to urge the tank 17 against the bracket 21, and a spring 54 on the cover shell 22 engages the top wall 52 of the tank 17 to force the nipple 18 into water type engagement with the seat 19. The extreme end 55 of the handle and the end 56 of the cover shell 22 form a sup port for the iron when it is upended into rest position on a supporting surface represented by the line 57 57.

In the top wall 52 of the reservoir 17 above the outlet 20 is a disc 58 secured to the wall by rivets 59 and is provided with an opening 60 through which a valve stem 61 is movable and the latter has a valve 62 at its lower end for engagement with the outlet 20 to control flow of liquid to the steam generator 12. A flexible diaphragm 63 is secured in an annular recess 64 on the valve stem 61 and between the disc 58 and the top wall 52 to prevent escape of water through the opening 60. The valve stem 61 extends upwardly into a recess 65 in the handle rear leg and is movably supported in a lug 66 formed in the handle rear leg.

In order to move the valve 62 to open and closed positions an overcenter device 67 is provided and comprises a U-shaped bracket 68 riveted at 69 to-the tank top wall 52, and a U-shaped lever 70 has the ends 71--71 of its legs 7272 pivotally supported in bends 73 in the spaced apart legs of 7474 the bracket 68. The opposite end 75 of the lever 70 is provided with an elongated opening 76 receiving the valve stem 61, and a pair of spaced pins 7777 on the stem 61 position the lever 70 on the valve stem. One end of a tension spring 78 is secured at 79 to the lever 70 and extends between the spaced legs 72-72 and 7474 for attachment to the leg 80 of the bracket 68. The spring 78 is under tension and pivotally secures the lever 70 in the bends 73 of the bracket legs 74. In addition the spring 78 maintains the valve 62 open or seated on the outlet 20 depending upon the position of the end 79 of the spring 78 with respect to the pivotal axis '73 of the lever 70. A U-shaped spring 81 is riveted at 32 to the lever 70 and has an offset portion 83 provided with a pin 84 the radial periphery 85 of which is engageable with a valve opening cam 86 or spaced valve closing earns 87 and 88 formed on the underside of the control dial.

In Figure 4 it Will be noted the valve opening cam 86 is at the outer periphery of the dial 41 and the closing cams 87 and 88 are spaced inwardly of and at opposite sides of the cam 86. The cams are so arranged that if the valve 62 is in closed position the pin 84 is in the path or the valve opening cam 86 whereby the radial surface of the latter engages the radial side wall of the pin 84 to shift the latter to its open position. When the valve 62 is open, the pin 84 is spaced from the cam 86 as shown in Figure 3 and rotation of the dial 41 in either direction causes one of the valve closing cams 87 or 88 to engage the pin 84 to move the latter to the full line position: of Figure 4 and shift the overcenter device 67 to cl ose the valve. The upper surface of the dial 41 has indicia representing different dry ironing temperatures and one Steam position for arrangement opposite a dot 89 on the handle front leg46.

i A device to close the outlet when the iron is placed in upended rest position is provided and comprises a surface engaging lever 90 extending through an opening in the handle rear leg 47 and is pivotally mounted on a pin 92 supported on the handle. The lever 90 has an arm 93 projecting into the recess of the handle rear leg 47, and its end 94 engages the extreme end 95 of the valve stem 61 and also a flange 96 on the handle. The other lever arm 97 has a surface 98 adapted to engage the supporting surface 57. A spring 99 is supported on the handle leg 47 and the lever arm 97 and at all times tends to rotate the lever 90 counterclockwise to project the surface engaging portion 98 beyond the line 57-57 of the supporting surface, and such outward movement is limited by the lever arm 93 engaging the flange 96.

When the iron is used for dry ironing, the dial 41 is rotated to place the proper indicia opposite the dot 89 to adjust the thermostat 27 to the proper temperature for the material to be ironed. In any dry ironing, setting of the, dial 41 the pin 84 is out of engagement with the cams S6, 87 and 8 8.

If steam is to be used in ironing materials, the dial 41 is rotated to position the indicia Steam opposite the dot 89 as shown in Figure 3 to thereby adjust the thermostat to the steam ironing temperature. Prior to movement of the dial 41 to its Steam position the overcenter device 67 is in the position shown in Figure 2 to maintain the valve 62 closed, and the pin 84 is out of engagement with the three cams. Depending upon the direction of dial rotation to Steam position either one of the valve closing cams 87 or 83 will by-pass the pin 84. If the dial 41 is rotated clockwise toward Steam position the cam 88 moves pass the pin 84 and the valve opening cam 86 is shifted into engagement with the pin 84 to move the latter to open position shown in Figure 3. A suitable yieldable latch mechanism m"intains the dial in its Steam ironing position and the cam 86 opposite to and spaced from the pin 84.

During rotation of the dial 41 the radial peripheral surface of the valve opening cam 86 engages the pin 84 to shift the latter inwardly toward the axis of the thermostat causing the end 75 of the lever to pivot above the pivotal axis 73 whereby the spring 78 then takes over to move the pin 84 out of contact with the cam .86 and the valve stem upwardly causing the valve 62 to uncover the outlet 20 for passage of water from the reservoir 17 into the steam generator 12 and the steam then passes through the passageways 13 and ports 14 onto the material to be ironed. Movement of the valve 62 to its fully opened position is limited by the end 95 of the valve stem abutting the end 94 of the lever arm 93 which is engaged with the stop 96.

When it is desired to arrange the material being ironed the iron may be upended to its rest or non-ironing posi tion by placing the end 56 of the cover shell 52 and the handle end 55 on the supporting surface 57. During movement of the iron toward its rest position the end 98 of the lever 90 first engages the supporting surface 57 to pivot the lever 90 clockwise causing the lever arm 93 to move the valve stem 61 and seat the valve 62 in the outlet 20 closing the latter and preventing escape of water into the generator 12 and thus passage of steam through the outlet ports 14. Movement of the lever 90 to valve closing position by placing the iron in its rest position also shifts the end of the actuating lever 70 to one side of the pivotal axis 73 and causes the pin 84 to move into engagement with the valve opening cam 86 to thereby place a stress on the offset portion 83 of the spring 81. The stress placed on the offset spring 71 is sufiicient to automatically shift the lever 70 to the other side of its pivotal axis when the iron is again moved to ironing position, whereby the spring 78 then moves the valve stem 61 to its open position for steam ironing, and the surface engaging portion 98 of the lever is re turned to its projecting position beyond the rest members 5556 for re-engagement with the supporting surface 57.

g In order to convert the iron to dry ironing operation the dial 41 is moved either to the right or'left from the Steam position depending upon the material to be ironed. If the dial is shifted to the right the valve closing cam 87 engages the pin 84 to move the latter radially outward causing the overcenter spring 78 to move the valve 62 into seating engagement with the outlet 20 and prevent the escape of'water from the reservior 17 to the steam generator 12.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 5 to 8 includes the sole plate 10, steam generator 12, reservoir 17, thermostat 27 and cover shell 22 as in Figures 1 to 5. A control dial 100 is removably attached to the thermostat stem 37 by the spring clips 42. A handle 101 is secured to the cover shell 22 by the screws 48 and is provided with the fill opening 49, a rear handle leg 102 1118 the projection 55 which cooperates with the erar end 56 of the cover shell 22 to support the iron in upended rest position on the supporting surface represented by the line 5757. A valve stem 103 is movably supported in the opening 60 of the tank top wall 52 andleakage of water through the port 60 is prevented by the flexible diaphragm 63.

An overcenter device 104 for moving the valve stem 103 and valve 62 to open and closed positions includes an angular bracket 105 riveted at 106 to the tank top wall 52. One end 106' of a lever 107 is pivotally supported upon a pin 108 mounted in the bracket 105 and the other end 109 has elongated opening 110 through which the valve stem 103 projects and the latter is provided with the spaced pins 77 to position the valve stem 103 on the lever 107. A trip lever 111 is mounted on a pin 11?. in the bracket 105, and pivoted at 113 on one arm 114 of the lever is a spring bracket 116 supporting one end of a compression spring 117 the opposite end of which is attached to an offset 118 on the lever 107. The spring 117 maintains the valve 62 seated in the outlet 20 or spaced therefrom depending upon the position of the pin 113 with respect to the pivotal axis 108 to the lever 107. The other arm 119 of the trip lever 111 is provided with a spherical end 120 which is engageable with a valve opening cam 121 or valve closing cams 122 and 123 formed on the underside of the dial 100.

The solid lines in Figure 7 show the spaced valve closing cams 122 and 123 at the outer radial periphery of the dial 100 and the valve opening cam 121 spaced inwardly therefrom. The cams are so arranged that if the valve 62 is in closed position the end 120 of the trip lever 111 is in the dotted line position, and in the path of the valve opening cam 121 shown in dotted lines, whereby movement of the dial 100 to the left causes the side wall surface of the cam 121 to engage the end 120 of the lever 111 to pivot the latter toward the outer periphery of the dial to the valve open position shown in full lines and out of engagement with all of the earns to thereby eflfect operation of the overcenter device 104 to open the valve '62. If the valve 62 is open, the end 199 of the lever 107 is in the dotted line position shown in Figure 6 and movement of the dial 100 to right or left causes one of the cams 12 2 or 123 to engage the lever end 120 to shift it to the dotted line position in Figure 7 and operate the overcenter device 104 to close the valve.

In order to close the valve 62 when the iron is upended onto the supporting surface 57, a lever 125 is pivotally supported on a pin 126 in a bracket 127 mounted on the top wall of the cover shell 22. One arm 128 of the lever 125 extends into the handle rear leg and engages the extreme end 129 of the valve stem 103 and is also adapted to abut a ledge 130 on the handle leg. The other arm 131 of the lever has an arcuate surface engaging portion 132. A torsion spring 133 about the pin 126 biases the lever 125. to the dotted line position shown in Figure 6 to project the surface engaging portion 132 beyond the line 5757 of the supporting surface, and the lever arm 128 contacts the ledge 130 to limit rotation of the lever.

In operating this embodiment of the invention as a dry iron, the desired temperature is obtained by rotating the dial 100 to register the proper indicia with the dot 89 on the handle leg. The trip lever 111 will be in the valve closed position shown in dotted lines in Figure 7 and either to the left or right of the valve operating cams in all positions of the dial 100 for dry ironing.

When it is desired to use steam, the dial 100 is moved either to the right or left as required from the previous dry ironing setting to position the indicia Steam opposite the dot 89. Depending upon the direction of dial rotation either of the side surfaces of the valve opening cam 121 will engage the end 120 of the trip lever 111 and shift the end 120 to the full line valve open position. Movement of the lever arm 119 to valve open position causes the lever arm 114 to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 6 to one side of the pivotal axis 108 whereby the spring 117 urges the end 109 of the lever 107 upwardly to lift the valve 62 away from the outlet 20 for passage of water into the generator 12 from which steam is then conducted to the outlet ports 14 to dampen the material being ironed. Movement of the valve 62 to open position is limited by the extreme end 129 of the valve stem 103 abutting the lever arm 128 which is seated against the ledge 130. When the valve 62 is fully opened the end 120 of the trip lever 111 is in the full line position shown in Figure 7 and out of contact with all of the cams, whereby the dial 100 is not subjected to the pressure exerted by the spring 117 on the end 120 of the trip lever.

If it is desired to place the iron in rest position the iron is upended by placing the end 55 of the handle and the end 56 of the cover shell on the supporting surface 57. During movement of the iron toward its rest position the end 132 of the lever 125 engages the supporting surface 57 causing the lever arm 128 to pivot clockwise as viewed in Figure 6 from its dotted line to full line position to thereby seat the valve 62 on the outlet 20 and close the latter to prevent escape of water from the reservoir.

Movement of the valve 62 to its closed position by clockwise rotation of the surface actuated lever 125 shifts the end 109 of the lever 107 below the pivotal axis 108, however the lever arm 114 is prevented from passing above the axis 108 since the end of the cam 121 contacts the lever end 120 and maintains the trip lever 111 in the dotted line valve open position shown in Figure 6, whereby the valve 62 is returned to its open position when the iron is lifted off the supporting surface 57.

The iron is converted for dry ironing by rotating the dial 100 to either the right or left to the desired temperature setting and such rotation causes one of the valve closing cams 122 or 123 to engage the trip lever 111 and shift the latter inwardly of the dial to actuate the overcenter device 104 whereby the latter moves the valve 62 against the outlet 20.

The iron includes few subassemblies in that the overcenter device 104 is mounted on the tank 17 as a unit and the surface engaging lever is supported on the cover shell 22 to which the handle 101 is secured by bolts 48 prior to attachment to the sole plate 10.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that I have provided an iron wherein the temperature dial also controls movement of the valve to fully open or closed positions, the over-center valve actuating means maintain the valve in open or closed positions without engaging the dial, and the surface actuated means to close the valve also provide a stop when the valve is open.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that those embodiments are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not Wish to be limited to the particular structures shown and described but to include all equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

Iclaim:

1. A steam iron comprising means forming a steam generator, a liquid reservoir having an outlet to said generator, a valve mounted for movement in opposite directions for opening and closing said outlet, valve control means including a dial movable to open and closed valve positions, cam means on said dial representing open and closed positions of said valve, overcenter means connected to said valve and arranged with respect. thereto when shifted to opposite sides of its dead center to exert its force on said valve in opposite directions to move said valve to open and close said outlet, means connecting said overcenter means to said cam means on said dial to effect movement by said cam means of said overcenter means to said opposite side of dead center upon moving said dial to its open and closed valve positions to thereby shift said valve to open and close said outlet, and lever means engageable with said valve when the latter is in its open position and also engageable with a supporting surface for rotating said lever means to exert an axial force on said valve and move the latter to its closed position as the iron is moved toward a non-ironing position, and said overcenter means arranged with respect to said lever means to yieldingly resist the axial force applied by movemerit of said lever means to eifect closing of said valve.

2. A steam iron comprising means forming a steam generator, a liquid reservoir having an outlet to said gen-- erator, a valve mounted for movement in opposite directions for opening and closing said outlet, valve control means including a dial movable to open and closed valve positions, cam means on said dial representing open and closed positions of said valve, overcenter means connected to said valve and arranged with respect thereto when shifted to opposite sides of its dead center to exert its force on said valve in opposite directions to move said valve to open and close said outlet, means connecting said overcenter means to said cam means on said dial to effect movement by said cam means of said overcenter means to said opposite side of dead center upon moving said dial to its open and closed valve positions to thereby shift said valve to open and close said outlet, and means engageable with a supporting surface to shift said valve to its closed position as the iron is moved toward a non-ironing position, said overcenter means arranged with respect to said cam means on said dial and said surface engaging means that movement of said valve to closed position by said surface engaging means shifts said overcenter means into engagement with said valve opening cam means to place a stress on said overcenter means whereby the latter exerts a force to move said valve to its open position upon shifting the iron to its ironing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,716 Woodman Feb. 29, 1944 2,411,199 Felver Nov. 19, 1946 2,655,746 McFarland et a1. Oct. 20, 1953 2,713,221 Smellie July 19, 1955 

